Combination anode and line cutter

ABSTRACT

Sacrificial anodes and line cutters which are formed into a single unit.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to marine equipment and is particularly directed to improved sacrificial anodes and line cutters.

RELATED CASES

This invention is described in my copending Provisional Application, Ser. No. 61/277,342, filed ______, and now ______.

PRIOR ART

It has long been known that, because various types of metals are used for different parts of a boat, exposure to water, especially salt water, creates electrical currents which tend to erode the metal parts. This results in weakening or failure of the effected part. As a result, it has become common practice to provide sacrificial anodes, usually formed of zinc or some other inexpensive and chemically active metal, which will erode more rapidly and, hence, serve to protect the more valuable parts. It is also known to provide cutters in the propeller shaft or the like to protect against entanglement by water plants, fishing lines and the like. However, prior art line cutters and sacrificial anodes have been provided as separate items. Therefore, it has not been possible to provide both sacrificial anodes and line cutters in many locations, such as propeller shafts. Thus, none of the prior art sacrificial anodes or line cutters have been entirely satisfactory.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION

These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and improved sacrificial anodes and line cutters are provided which can quickly and easily be installed in common in substantially any desired locations, such as propeller shafts, simultaneously.

These advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing improved sacrificial anodes and line cutters which are formed into a single unit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved sacrificial anodes and line cutters.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved sacrificial anodes and line cutters which can be installed quickly and easily.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved sacrificial anodes and line cutters which can be installed quickly and easily in a common location.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide improved sacrificial anodes and line cutters which can be installed quickly and easily in common si substantially any desired location.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide improved sacrificial anodes and line cutters which are formed into a single unit.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a combination sacrificial anode and line cutter embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an alternative form of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another alternative form of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of showing three of the devices of the present invention mounted on a propeller shaft; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an alternative form of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration, FIG. 1 shows a sacrificial anode and line cutter, indicated generally at 10. The sacrificial anode 10 is an annular device formed of chemically active metal, such as zinc, aluminum or the like, comprising upper and lower semicircular halves 12 and 14 respectively. The cutter blade 16 is formed of strong, rigid non-metal material, such as carbide, and is also formed in upper and lower halves and is formed with cutting teeth 17, which project beyond the perimeter of the sacrificial anode 10. The cutter blade 16 is formed into a single unit with the sacrificial anode 10 as seen in FIGS. 1-7. The upper and lower halves 12 and 14 of the sacrificial anode 10 are secured together and the sacrificial anode 10 is secured to a propeller shaft 24, as seen in FIG. 5, or other suitable location by bolts 18. The bolts 18 pass through suitable holes 20 formed in the upper halves 12 and are received in threaded holes, not shown, in the lower halves 14. The holes 20 and 22 may be located on the same side of the cutter blade 16, as seen in FIG. 2, or may be located on alternate sides of the cutter blade 16, as seen in FIG. 3. Obviously, various sizes of the sacrificial anode 10 may be provide to accommodate different diameters of propeller shafts.

In use, because the cutter blades 16 are molded into the upper and lower halves, 12 and 14 of the sacrificial anode 10, the sacrificial anode 10 becomes a single unit including the cutter blade 16. Thus, when the sacrificial anode 10 is mounted onto a propeller shaft 24 or the like, the cutter blades 16 are also mounted in the same location. Should fishing lines, ropes, kelp seaweed or other material become tangled about the propeller shaft 24, the teeth 17 of the cutter blade 16 will rapidly shred and sever them to prevent them from interfering with the functioning of the propeller 26. The sacrificial anode 10 serves in the usual manner to protect the propeller blade and shaft from electrolytic corrosion.

FIG. 6 shows a sacrificial anode 34 having a cutter blade 36 attached thereto by screws 38 to form an integral unit.

Obviously, numerous other variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 

1. A sacrificial anode device comprising: An article formed of chemically-active metal having a cutter blade formed therein.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein: said cutter blade is formed of strong, rigid non-metallic material.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein: said device is annular.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein: said device comprises upper and lower semi-circular halves.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein: said halves are formed with bolt holes for securing said halves together.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein: said bolt holes are both on the same side of said cutter blade.
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein: one of said bolt holes is on one side of said cutter blade and the other of said bolt holes is on the opposite side of said cutter blade.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein: said cutter blade is formed of carbide.
 9. The device of claim 2 wherein: said cutter blade has teeth which project beyond the periphery of said article.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein: said cutter blade is molded into said article.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein: said cutter blade is screwed onto said article. 